Class of 2026 Commencement Celebrates Achievement and New Beginnings

There was much to celebrate this spring as the graduating Class of 2026 walked across the stages at Bethlehem and Pocono Campuses. This spring's class size tops the charts at 766 students, the largest since spring 2019. It’s a class of diverse graduates ranging in age from 18 to 75 and hailing from locations all over the state, nation and world, from California to Kenya. Twenty-three of the graduates boast a perfect 4.0 GPA. 

The May 19 Pocono campus ceremony was held in the Pocono campus gymnasium, and the May 21 Bethlehem campus ceremony was held in the Arthur L. Scott Spartan Center. Both rooms were filled with delighted family, friends, and mentors supporting the graduates on this momentous occasion. 

President of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D., called out some special graduates, like Robert Knight, who completed his associate’s degree in psychology as an online student. While he took advantage of the flexibility that online learning offers, he still served as the president of NCC Pocono’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and was inducted into its Chapter Officer Hall of Honor. Knight also earned NCC Pocono's Quetcy Dueno Leadership Award, a leader and mentor for others. Dr. Ruth called out other graduates who are first generation graduates in their family; worked while earning their degree; supported a family while attending NCC; had a difficult path filled with obstacles trying to derail them; and persevered to reach graduation day using all the resources at their disposal.  

“As you look around, I hope you see what I see. I see what success really looks like. Success is not one path, one definition, or one kind of story. No matter how big or small your achievements are, they are uniquely yours. What you all share, though, is that you showed up, you kept going, and you finished. You should all be so proud of arriving at this commencement stage,” Dr. Ruth proudly said to the graduates. 

The Spring Class of 2026 also included the first students to graduate from three NCC’s newest health professions programs: cardiac sonography, vascular sonography, and respiratory care. 

“I’m proud to report that all nine cardiac sonography grads, all four vascular sonography grads, and all 13 respiratory care grads already have jobs lined up!” Dr. Ruth told the audience. 

Both ceremonies were treated to a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Tony Moore, NCC Choir director and director of the funeral services program, led the NCC Choir on Pocono campus. Bethlehem campus featured the NCC Quartet comprised of Madisyn Bonilla, health sciences major, Azelia Dos Santos, graduating theatre student, Giovanni Fialla, graduating secondary education student, and Christopher Tempel, general studies major. 

Both campuses’ graduating student speakers stressed that the graduates could face challenges or the unknown with grace and resilience.  

During the Bethlehem campus ceremony, Larissa Fernandez Estevez, biological sciences graduate, addressed fellow graduates by saying uncertainty is not foreign to her. She expected to enter a university and pursue a degree in medicine, but financial strain on her family didn’t allow her to do so right after high school in her home country of the Dominican Republic. “There is a powerful force behind uncertainty,” she said. “It can cause enough pressure to turn you into a diamond. My struggles and small victories taught me growth comes from trial and error. We are stepping into a world full of uncertainty, but I challenge all of us to uplift each other as we’re faced with uncertainty. Dare to stand tall in the middle of the uncertain.” 

Registered nursing graduate, Cristina Devore, addressed her peers on the Pocono campus. “We’ve all had moments we struggled and felt like we couldn’t do it, but we pushed through. So, as we move on to the next chapter of our lives, remember that you can do hard things and today is proof of that.” 

Faculty speaker, Dr. Mel Sivells, professor, early childhood education, drew a parallel between a popular novel and the Bethlehem campus graduates while Randy Boone, professor, English, kept it lighthearted during the Pocono commencement.  

“At times college may have felt a little less like education and a bit more like the Hunger Games, and yet, you are here. Beginning tonight, we no longer see you simply as students, we welcome you as business leaders, entrepreneurs, technicians, creators, and changemakers. Trust your voice, trust your resilience, trust your knowledge. May the odds be ever in your favor,” said Dr. Sivells. 

Professor Boone said, “You've overcome [programs like] WorkDay, Starfish, and Alex. You've overcome Brightspace, and you're one of the few classes to also overcome Blackboard. You've overcome us [the professors]! 
Mostly, you've overcome that vending machine in KAPP Hall where everything gets stuck in the corner. All your hard work has led to this moment. It doesn't matter how old you are, where you come from, what your past looks like, or whether you started at NCC six months ago or ten years ago. 
Today, you are the Northampton Community College Class of 2026. And that's a connection that you'll always have in common.” 

Both commencement speakers told the students to never lose sight of and hold on to the sense of accomplishment they feel today.  

Bethlehem Commencement Speaker, Dr. Ron Yoshida, former provost at Lehigh University, told the graduates to close their eyes and enjoy the moment of accomplishing their goals. Although everyone’s journey is different, he had a few pieces of advice for the future. “Keep learning on the job, and learn a new skill every year. Those who work the hardest and keep learning will succeed. People will notice, and opportunities will come your way.” 

Commencement speaker at Pocono’s ceremony, Chris Barrett, president of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, said, “I’m so proud of you because you’re going to go out in the world and conquer and achieve for the next generation. There’s one thing I want to suggest as you start this. I want you to look inward and reflect on this moment, and reflect on the feeling of accomplishment. Keep that with you in your soul because you’re going to need it when things get tough. You can rely on the inner strength you're beginning to build right now to get you through.” 

The President’s Commencement Scholarship was awarded to Talia Ortiz (Bethlehem) and Hector Sabathie (Pocono), given in honor of each of the ceremonies’ commencement speakers. Additionally, Maura Ceglia was honored with the Trustee Award. Ceglia was recognized by fellow students and faculty members for possessing outstanding leadership qualities.   

Applause filled both ceremonies as graduates crossed the stage and accepted their diplomas. 

NCC enjoys a long-standing tradition of involvement and participation by its alumni in every aspect of college life. Class of 2020, Laney Steele (Bethlehem) and Class of 2018, William Careri (Pocono), each welcomed graduates into the Alumni Association as they shifted their tassels from right to left. 

See photos from thePocono campus ceremony below! Check back for photos featured from the Bethlehem campus cermony to come.